Electric percussion fuse for shells, etc.



March 3, 1931. H. RUHLEMANN ELECTRIC PERCUSSION FUSE FOR SHELLS, ETC.

Filed Dec. 16, 1929 f/ S5 S2 B s' A/"V l w 1 Ig l e1 .F1 702 Z1 Z2 -v -v' L :'i glo 132ml/ h2\\\ B ,jg "LV S Si V k 0 f v 20o e2 l :L52 L @t f :91 112,162 1:41 Je 7,. }L1\ mV f a D |r-1\/Er-1rmF\` /7/2 TZ@ ff Ziczzzem ,'q/

Patented Mar. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERBERT BHI.

I 0F SOMMEBDA, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB T0 BHEINISCHE MET- A. conromrion or annum ELEc'rBIc PERCUSSION rusia ron-smarts, E'rc.

Application med December 16, 1929, Serial No. 414,49?, and in' Germany"Iiuni3',` 19,29.v

The invention relates to electric percussion igniters or fuses for shells or the like which can operate with or without delay, and which receive their ignition energy .from a remote point. In accordance with the invention the electric device of the igniter is so constructed that it is possible selectively to set for delayed ignition or ignition without delay by the special way of supplying the electrical ignition energy. Thereby the charging device for the fuse becomes at the same time the means for setting it to the desired type of ignition. The provision of ener and the setting to with or without delay follow mutally through a single switching movementof one and the same switch member of the charging device, which can always be arranged in convenient reach of the operator, completely independently of the place and position, at the same, of the current supplying means of the charging device and the fuse itself, either when t e latter is in a bomb suspended in readiness for throwing in a throwing device or in a shell already placed in the barrel of the gun.

In the drawing, Figs. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic views of two different forms of the variation of its energy supply relatively 'to the other condenser, f or f2, through a high resistance, 2 or i2. The i 'tion material L of igniter A operates wlthout retardation, while that, h2, o igniter A2, operates with retardation.

To suppkly the energy and, at the same time, to make t e/desired adjustment of the ignition, there is a vcharging apparatus B, coma source of current with three termipri nalsslls2 and s3 for the igniter. To the positive terminal of the source of current can be consecutively connected, by switch 8, for example, the charging contacts s', s2, while the contact 83 is connected to the negative pole.

The igniter has four surface contacts la', k2, les and c, insulated from'each other and connected to the corresponding (positive) poles of the condensers e f', e2 and f2, and which,V

A2 with s2. The negative poles of the con.

densers come in contact with the negative pole 83 of the source of current through the metal of the shell, as shown.

According as to whetherl retarded or nonretarded ignition is desired, the charging contact s2, or the charging contact s', is connected to the positive pole of the source of current by means of theswitch s, so that either igniter A or A2 receives the current. 0f course, switch s can also be so arranged that the delay igniter A2 will also receive current, as a precaution, when the no delay igniter A does. The method of operation ofthe igniters themselves is well lmown and need not be described here.A After 'the igniter is removed from the charging apparatus, and after a definite period of time, toensure safety, there exists apotential diferencebetween the condenser coatings, connected to each other throu h the ignition material, of the igniter whic is'charged, which produces the ignition when the corresponding percussion contacts are closed. v

In the .modied form of Fig. 2, thesource Vof current in charging apparatus B is arranged to supply two different potentials, for example, 150 and 200 volts, which can be selectively set u by means of, switch s, between the negative c arging contact as and the positive pole s.

Both circuits -A (without delay) and A2 (with delay) of the igniter A are maintained, by the charging connections of their condensers, so connected together that, after the insertion of the igniter in the charging apparatus, both are connected to the energized charging contacts s' and s". But in the circuit A', for ignition withaut delay, there is an electric relay, for example .a spark gap Z 2 weefsel (gaseous potential arrester), the break-down voltage of which, depending upon its size, lies between the two voltages derived from the source of current.

For ignition with delay, the lower potential of the source is supplied to the charging contacts s and s3, by the switch s. At this time only the ciicuit A2 receives current, since the relay Z- prevents the current from entering the circuit A2 for no delay since the momentar-y chargingvoltage lies helow the voltage necessary to break down said relay. lt is only when the higher voltage of the source is imposed at the contacts s' and s?, that the no dela 7 circuit A. is also charged,and the latter, W en percussion takes place, causes an immediate ignition.

l claim as my invention l. Percussion fuse comprising two ignition circuits, either of which can be connected to an outside source of energy, one of said circuits causing undelayed ignition and the other delayed ignition.

2. Percussion fuse comprising two ignition circuits, both of which can be connected to an outside source of energy, one of said c ircuits operating without retardation and containing a relay, whereby it is capable of being charged only by a voltage of a certain magnitude.

3. Percussion fuse `comprising two ignition circuits, each containing a condenser and one containing a relay operable only by a voltage of predetermined magnitude, an outside source of current having two di'erent voltages, and means to connect said circuits to said sourcei l In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

HERBERT RHLEMAN N 

